Mayor Ray Nagin's advice breaks census rules

The Times-Picayune ^ | 7-10-2009 | Michelle Krupa

[liberty75]

Aiming to maximize federal grant money and offer proof of his city's recovery, Mayor Ray Nagin is urging Hurricane Katrina victims still living elsewhere -- and longing to return -- to record New Orleans as their home when the U.S. Census Bureau conducts its decennial head count next spring.

Problem is, that strategy doesn't mesh with census rules, federal officials say.

In an e-mail response to questions about the much-anticipated count, Nagin spokesman James Ross said this week: "An area of major concern relates to New Orleanians working to return here. Many are repairing their homes, and others are trying to work out other life details.

"Mayor Nagin has called for all New Orleanians to list New Orleans as home if they plan to move back, " he said.

The unusual appeal flies in the face of a federal policy dating back more than two centuries that requires people to be counted, with few exceptions, at the address where they are "living or staying" on the official census day, which falls next year on April 1.

"The residency rule is what it's been since 1790, " said Gabriel Sanchez, director of the Census Bureau's regional office in Dallas, which oversees Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. "We need to count people where they live, not where they plan to live or where they want to live."

Getting an accurate count, he said, is vital to guiding the distribution of $300 billion annually in federal grants and to the distribution of seats in Congress.

[Costumed Vigilante]

A chocolate census!

[CMS]

Just do what I'm going to do. This is the letter that I'll be enclosing with a copy of the cesus form they send me.

To Whom it May Concern:

I have recently received the enclosed Census 2010 form.

The Constitution’s Article I, Section 2 states: “The actual Enumeration shall be made within three years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law Direct.” This simple statement in the Constitution gives the Federal Government the power to count the number citizens in each state.

•Nowhere does it authorize the Federal Government to compel the citizens to divulge their housing payment arrangements.
•Nowhere does it give the Federal Government the power to compel citizens to provide their phone number.
•Nowhere does it give the Federal Government the power to compel citizens to divulge their sex, age and date of birth.
•Nowhere does it give the Federal Government the power to compel citizens to divulge their race or ethnic heritage.

The Tenth Amendment to the Constitution limits the Federal Government’s powers to only those that are specifically delegated to it by the Constitution. This means that the Federal Government cannot usurp powers that have not been granted to it in the Constitution. An example of this usurpation of power is your implied threat of legal action against me if I do not respond to this form completely. The Census Bureau, as a representative of the United States Government, only has the power to enumerate me. My name is XXXX XXXXXX. I live at XXXX XXXXX Dr. Apt. XXXX., XXXXXX, TX. My wife is Mrs XXXXXXX XXXXXX of the same address. Consider me and my wife officially enumerated. Now you can determine how many congressman my state should have.

I will not provide you with any of the other information you request and you cannot compel me to without overstepping the Constitutional limits on your powers. Do not send a representative to my house. I will not answer the door.

Signed XXXXXXX

[Eric Blair 2084]

Uuuuh, like, here's some advice you dumbass. Uuuhh, why didn't you like use those thousands of school buses in the parking lot to like, evacuate your citizens or something, before the uuuhh, hurricane Katherine or Kat thing?

Oh, yeh. Yeh, eh, heh. It's all FEMA and George Bush's fault, yeah!

[fishergirl]

That’s my answer too!

[ecomcon]

..in such Manner as they shall by Law Direct..

Plenty of wiggle room apparently.

[antiunion person]

The only question a person is legally required to answer is the amount of people in the household. The rest of the questions are like someone else posted, NOYFB. If you only answer that one question, you can look forward to someone from the census board calling you and TELLING you, you HAVE to answer all questions or you will be fined and possibly spend some time in jail. But no matter what they say, you can tell them to stick it.

[blam]

It's okay, he's Black.

It's racist to ask Black people to follow any rules.

For example...when will the fake accuser of the Duke University boys be charged? Not ever, she's Black.

[gondramB]

I have to say I’m very surprised. I have come to respect mayor Nagin as an honest, just straight talking statesman.... O.K. I couldn’t even type that with a straight face.

[OafOfOffice]

Mayor Nagin, with ACORN right there they will figure out a way to corrupt the census for you. Have no fear.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

What about the vaunted Obama dialog? Giving up already?

[diji]

Longing to return to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/8030/ihaveawhat.jpg

[gwilhelm56]

**That’s my answer too!**

3 live here ... as for the rest of the questions... YOU FILL THEM OUT ... YOU’re GOING TO, Anyway!!

[blam]

47% of the residents of New Orleans cannot read or write.

[Aroostook25]

They want to screw the cities which have been hosting them for years. Or are they gonna make sure they are counted twice — in both places?

[RedCell]

Ping for future reference!

[DBrow]

The article I’m replying to has an example of “media” people discouraging participation.

[DBrow]

Oops, I was aiming for #39, sorry.

[Gondring]

Well, don't forget that Mayor Nagin was a GWB supporter (incl donations, speeches, etc.) before Katrina.

But methinks the love is now gone. :`-(